Japan import – Volvo V70 T6 AWD (2015) – Import Story
 

Hello everyone, I thought I’d share my experience importing a used Volvo V70 T6 AWD from Japan. The process is not yet complete, so this will be a warts and all as I get through it.

Originally, I was looking for a V70R, but during the search a 2015 V70 T6 AWD came up, it’s got 95k miles on it, very high spec and looks to be in very good condition – so I took a punt and won the auction.

I used Japan Car Direct as my agent – it was their search engine that I used for access to the auctions. I can’t recommend them enough, they are very patient and very helpful.

They translated the auction sheet for every car I was interested in and advised me whether it was worth considering. They then gave me the option to get more photographs (not available at every auction site) and to get an in-person check – which I did. These are a detailed appraisals with an honest, worth buying or not opinion. They also check the engine runs and doesn’t knock etc.

So – after deciding that I wanted to bid on the car, I gave my maximum bid and left it with them – they’d bid only if the in-person appraisal was positive. When I woke up – I’d won. That was 27th Jan, later that day I received the invoice and paid.

On the 28th Jan the car was moved to the dock and I was sent some photos. At that time I was told that due to the world wide issues with shipping that I could be waiting up to 3 months to get on a boat.

On 22nd Feb I was told that I’d got lucky and the car was due to be shipped on 3rd March, arriving in Bristol on 7th April.

On 28th March I received all the documentation at home through DHL (Commercial Invoice, Export Certificate). They also sent a notice to the docks in Bristol – a certificate of surrender (needed to release the car).

This was the trigger for the representative of the shipping company at Bristol docks to contract me to arrange collection – which involves paying import duty and VAT on the car – they do this for you after sending them the commercial invoice. They bill you afterwards and provide something called a NOVA which allows you to register the car with the DVLA (You only get this when VAT and duty is paid and the car is released from the Port).

For me the car is under 10 years old so I have to also put the car through an IVA before I can register it. That requires filling in a form called IVA 1C. It asks a lot of questions and requires copies of the documentation sent from Japan. The Export Certificate here is key as for cars built after July 2007, the export certificate is the key for proving compliance against a bunch of directives. I completed this on 29th March and to date am still waiting on an appointment slot.

If the car is over 10 years old then all you have to do is get it MOT’d.

In the mean-time I’ve used a company called Shiply to invite quotes for transporting the car up from Bristol to the North West – that’s a cost of £370. I’ve chosen the company and they are scheduled to pick up on 8th April.

Insurance:
The car is not registered but I need to insure it to drive it to the IVA – you can buy insurance specifically for this purpose – called VIN insurance, it’s TPO and lasts for 30 days – best price I got is £199 through Crowthorn: 01344 585072. But instead, I’m going to take out a 12-month policy with Adrian Flux that covers me whilst the car has no registration and which can be converted once it is registered.

Conversion to UK Spec:

This area was a bit of a gamble – but the car looked so good it was worth the risk – and as it turns out I think I’ve found a solution. The big issue is the dash. The car reads KM’s, all messages are in Japanese, the radio is on a different frequency and the SatNav is set to Japan.
My worst-case scenario was to put a head up display that reads MPH to get it through the IVA – then to figure out how to adapt or swap out. I could install apple car play to resolve the SatNav situation and a band expander for the radio.

However, I found www.d5t5.com – these guys have written software to access the Volvo operating system API – as such and because this is a P3 car with a fully LCD dash, they offer a region change which does the lot, so it becomes a fully UK spec car (approx. £400 by the time I’ve bought the DICE lead, installed the software, bought the region change and paid the UK rep to install it for me) .
As I say, there’s a rep in the UK – I’ve paid him extra to do the conversion remotely on my behalf because I don’t want to get it wrong. He’s booked in for Monday 11th, but you could do it yourself.

You may think that £400 is a lot to pay – but a head-up display alone is circa £150, to me £400 for a full UK conversion including SatNav and radio is pretty good – let’s hope it works.

Next steps – I’m taking it to a Volvo specialist locally to give it the once over, do an MOT before it goes to IVA so that I am as assured as possible that it will pass; check the engine, emissions, full service and full fluids change – then it will be off to the IVA.

I’ll list the costs in a separate message and will add/update as I go along.

In the mean time I'll try to post some photos – next update will be after it arrives.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/V4v3juqeDA7yCuPcA

VAT and Tax = 26% of the purchase price of the vehicle
Shipping, transport and JCD costs: £2600 (Dependent on size/weight vehicle)
Unloading at Bristol: £50
Customs Clearance: £75
Transport from Dock to Home: £370
DICE: £70
Region Change Software: £170
Region Change installation: £100
IVA £199
Registration: £55

The fact that you avoid that £500 road tax, and a super low mileage to boot. Jammy bugger ;)

Japanese import
 

Wow! you really made it sound like hard work. Two years ago I bought a 2006 plate Ocean Race V70 from a company in Bradford. In Mint condition, the engine bay was immaculate as was the interior. 65K kilometres on the clock. All I had to do was pay for the 6 months road tax on top of the purchase price once the paperwork came from the DVLC with a UK plate provided by the dealer along with a full MoT, service and a new battery.
Other members will give advice on tyre changes to UK spec.- I agree the Michelins are hard- I changed mine at leisure. The dash isn't a problem, learn the conversions for the main speed limits or invest in a cheap HUD unit- mine lines up with my dashcam and can be very useful in the event of an accident.
You will also learn that the Japanese do not use salt on their roads so there is no underseal on these vehicles. Mine is totally rust free after 16 years and at the last MoT the dealer who, when booking the car in' said "well it is an old car" then changed his tune on the test day to " it's like new". Say no more! Good luck with your purchase. Enjoy!

Lovely vehicle. That company who does the region change is a good find. Well worth the price

You won't have had to do much because you bought at retail compared to importing the vehicle yourself. There's advantages and disadvantages of both. But obviously buying at retail means you're paying for the full import process and preparation as well as the dealer's margin on top.

Out of interest, why would you change the tyres? Also, with regards to underseal - I checked with Volvo and they stated that vehicles for the Japanese market have the same underseal spec as European ones. Not sure if this has been different at any point in the past.

Regarding the Tyres you may have to change them if they are not CE or DOT marked, This may be one thing they pick up on the super MOT, worth checking out before sending it though. I bought our import from a dealer as first U.K. owner and it had new tyres on.

Thank you - I have been thinking about tyres and wondered whether they would be valid in the UK. I use a really good local Volvo specialist - I'm going to take the car to them before the IVA and will have the conversation about the tyres.

Thanks for the advice - much appreciated

Hi.
Glad we could help out with your insurance.
Regards,
Dan.

Thanks Dan - would also like to point out to everyone, that Adrian Flux have insured the Volvo and are not going to transfer my NCB until it's registered so that I can continue to use my existing car - all I had to do was provide my existing insurance details to prove the NCD - great service